The Al-Khalifa monarchy wants it this year for reasons besides
revenue. It’s seen as a way to improve Bahrain’s image and create an
illusion of normalcy despite daily state-sponsored terror against
peaceful protesters.

"(A)uthorities had committed gross human rights violations with
impunity, including excessive use of force against protesters,
widespread torture, and other ill-treatment, unfair trials and unlawful
killings.”

Participating drivers ducked commenting on racing in a virtual war
zone. Seven-time world champion, Michael Schumacher, dismissed
conditions, saying: "I don’t want to mix the sport with political
things. I am here for the sport.”

Like others involved, he’s also money driven. Earnings amount to millions. From May 2010 – May 2011, Forbes magazine said he earned $34 million.

On April 19, The New York Times headlined, "Unease Surrounds Bahrain Grand Prix,” saying:

"It was almost business as usual for Formula One in Bahrain on
Thursday, as the teams prepared their cars in their garages and the
drivers met the media for the Bahrain Grand Prix on Sunday.”

Throughout months of vicious crackdowns against nonviolent protests, The Times remained largely dismissive.

Ahead of Friday’s practice session, "protests had flared in villages
surrounding the capital, far from the circuit where the race will be
held. Police fired tear gas and stun grenades to disperse demonstrators
in clashes that have been building in the week leading to Sunday’s round
of the World Championship.”

According to Index of Censorship’s Kirsty Hughes:

"The Bahraini government wants to bask in the positive international
publicity it anticipates receiving through the Formula One motor race
going ahead.”

"Yet all the signs are that the government is likely to intensify its
harsh clampdown on local activists before and during the Grand Prix.”

"Villages and houses have been attacked continuously for the past few
days. Pre-dawn house raids are being conducted and dozens of protesters
are either arrested or wanted for arrest.”

"As F1 is approaching, human rights activists in Bahrain Center for
human rights are being targeted with arrests and prosecution, in an
effort to undermine thier work in reporting the violence against
protesters during the F1.”

On April 15, BCHR’s Sayed Yousif Al Mahafdha and two Human Rights
Watch (HRW) members (Tom Malinowski and Nadim Houry) were attacked and
arrested while observing a peaceful protest. They were held, harassed,
interrogated, and released.

According to Al Mahafdha, when protesters reached the main road, riot
police confronted them violently. Tear gas and stun grenades were used.
Al Mahafdha took shelter in a nearby home. Police stormed it. They
pepper-sprayed and beat those inside.

In recent weeks, BCHR president Nabeel Rajab was arrested several
times for exposing human rights abuses, as well as expressing his views
freely and participating in peaceful demonstrations. Authorities accused
him and others of "participating in an illegal assembly.”

Rajab was formally charged with violating Bahrain’s Assembly code. On
May 6, his trial begins. The repressive Assembly law lets police
repressively disrupt nonviolent public gatherings. Its article 11
states:

"No one shall organize demonstrations or marches or rallies that are held or going near shopping malls.”

The event "backfired before it has even begun….The race has become a
magnet for protest, a magnifying glass of dissent bubbling away below
the surface. ‘Don’t race over our blood,’ the slogan goes in Manama, but
that is what Formula One teams propose to do today.”